Two-Legged Puppy Now Has 3-D Printed Wheelchair

dogpaw1 | November 20, 2015 | Health | No Comments

3-D Printing Technology: Gives New Life

Meet Tumbles, an adorable two-legged puppy born without front legs and was rescued when he was only two weeks old.

In an interview with ABC News, Tumbles’ foster mother explains that the dog weighed a mere 1.5 pounds when he was born and had to be bottle-fed for over a week.

Despite the challenging disability, Tumbles figured out how to walk on his nose and back legs. The veterinarian suggested that Tumbles needed front wheels in order to strengthen his hind legs.

Thanks to modern technology, the adorable two-legged puppy is now more mobile than ever with his 3-D printed wheelchair, rolling around at his leisure.

Crafted by the Ohio University Innovation Center, Tumbles’ new set of wheels reportedly took 14 hours to print using a Stratasys Objet350 Connex, an eight-headed printer that the university boasts is the “largest and most sophisticated 3D printer in the region.”

In a Facebook post, Tumbles’ caretakers at Friends of the Shelter Dogs explain that the prototype cart’s design needs to be further refined in order to accommodate the dog’s small frame. Tumbles will also need to undergo several weeks of physical therapy before he can locomote efficiently.

Watch the cute puppy be introduced to his new “wheels” here:

Reader – How do you think 3-D printing will change other processes in the future? Do you think Tumbles will like his custom 3-D printed wheelchair? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or on our FACEBOOK PAGE.